MP York has written to the Minister of Finance outlining a series of operational and administrative concerns at the Tax Department that have been building since mid-2025 and now risk serious consequences for both staff and the taxpaying public. From a prolonged leadership vacuum to data errors affecting individual tax assessments, the picture that emerges is one of a department under significant strain. It is worth noting that challenges within the Tax Department did not emerge overnight. However the situation appears to have deepened considerably since mid-2025, suggesting that what may have once been manageable has since crossed into territory…
Author: The Publisher
Dear Editor, The garbage situation on Sint Maarten has been a serious concern for some time, and in recent weeks it has become harder to ignore. Piles have been building up in Cole Bay and other neighborhoods, contractual disputes between government and the local waste haulers have moved into public view, and the landfill itself has been described in recent reporting as being in a precarious state. I want to read this alongside another story currently in the international news, because the two echo. Over the past few days, media and health authorities have been covering a cluster of Andes…
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On the occasion of Lupus Awareness Day, the UPP is paying tribute to the many Lupus warriors across Sint Maarten who continue to face one of life’s toughest battles with strength, dignity, and determination. While Lupus is often described as an invisible illness, the fight faced by those living with the disease is very real. Behind every diagnosis is a person pushing through pain, exhaustion, uncertainty, and emotional hardship while still showing up for their families, careers, and communities. “Today is not only about awareness. It is about recognizing fighters,” the UPP stated. “There are people…
Construction has begun on the Philipsburg Marketplace without a valid building permit, and while the sound of machinery may feel like progress, MP Darryl York says what is actually happening on that site is illegal. In the most recent public Parliamentary meeting, the Minister of TEATT confirmed on record that a permit had not yet been granted and that construction would begin once it was. That permit still has not been issued. The equipment is moving anyway. And if you are one of the 400-plus families who has been waiting years for your own building permit, watching your loan get…
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran is calling for the fair and immediate resolution of the ongoing payment dispute involving Fleming Waste Solutions, stating that while Government should always work toward stronger administrative structures and formalized contracts, contractors who carry out essential services for the country should not remain unpaid after work has already been executed, verified, and accepted. Doran said the recent public discussion surrounding the matter requires additional context, particularly as attention now appears to be shifting toward assigning blame instead of resolving the issue responsibly. “Let us be realistic about how Government operations…
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes has formallyrequested Government to provide a comprehensive assessment of Sint Maarten’s pension system,raising growing concerns about whether many pensioners are still able to meet the basic cost ofliving after retirement.In a letter submitted to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, MPLacroes requested detailed financial, actuarial, demographic, and legal information related toboth the pension structure administered through Social & Health Insurances SZV and thecontributory pension system managed by Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten.According to MP Lacroes, the request is not about attacking the current system, but abouthonestly assessing and…
St. Maartener Maisha I.V. Marlin Graduates from Georgia State University with Business Administration Degree Atlanta, Georgia — St. Maartener Maisha I.V. Marlin has proudly graduated from Georgia State University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Business Law in May 2026. Marlin completed her degree over a five-year period, from August 2021 to May 2026. During her time at Georgia State University, she demonstrated dedication both inside and outside the classroom. She earned Dean’s List honors twice while also serving as a member of the GSU Spirit Team’s Pantherettes Dance Team, representing the university with pride, discipline,…
By Hilbert Haar One thing is for sure: Rolando Brison is not fit to function as a worthy representative of the people. The Court in First Instance sentenced him to 6 months in prison for accepting bribes from businessman Alex Dijkhoffz. For the next five years he is banned from holding a job as a civil servant or to be elected. In other words: his political career is dead as a doornail. Brison is obviously not the only bad guy in this depressing story. As the good people of Transparency International like to say: it takes two to tango. In…
PHILIPSBURG – The Court in first Instance has sentenced former parliamentarian Rolando Brison to an unconditional prison sentence of six months for accepting bribes from businessman Alex Dijkhoffz. The public prosecutor also accused Brison of taking bribes from Robbie dos Santos and from Sunil Gehani, but the court acquitted Brison of these charges for lack of evidence. The prosecution demanded a 24-month prison sentence, but the court handed down a lower sentence because there was no proof for all of the allegations. The court banned Brison for five years from holding a job as a civil servant and it also…
By Hilbert Haar Wow! No royal decorations this year for St. Maarteners. Not a single one. What happened? A lack of suitable candidates? Did we simply miss the deadline for submissions? I have no idea but I could think of a few excellent nominees like Binkie van Es, Tadzio Bervoets and Melanie Choisy. These people would have been my favorites but maybe they already have such a decoration. Who knows? I have studied the process our RODAC, the Royal Decoration Advisory Committee, has to go through and I discovered that there are actually deadlines. Anyone who has kept an eye…
